The Portland daily press., 1887-12-31
JOHN r. ANDERSON.
His Work on the Portland G. ogdens-
burg Railroad.
A Memorial from a Distinguished en-
elnees.

In yesterdays Argus Professor George L.
Vose distinguished engineer, pays a de-
served compliment to the late John f. An
derson, speaking highly of his abilities as an
engineer and his devotion to his profession.
Professor Vose says:
1t is with great regret that have seen in
the papers the notice of the death OF the
above named engineer. Mr.. Anderson was
good representative of the older members
of the profession in this country. His views
were broad, his experience wide, and his
judgment always to be relied upon. He be-
loBged to class OF engineers that in the
present breaking up of the profession into
specialties, is rapidly disappearing; men
who were trained in the best of all schools,
actual practice; and who in their various la
bors stood upon the solid foundation of ex-
perience.
doubt If even his fellow townsmen fully
appreciate the professional skill shown by
Mr.. Anderson in the location and construc-
ton of the Ogdensburg railroad through the
Crawford Notch. This work has marked
him as one of the best railroad engineers,
not only in this country but in the world.
The plans and reports of that work have be-
come a regular part of the course of con-
struction in the best European technical
| schools. 1t was my good fortune to exam
| inc the problem of carrying a railroad
| through the White Mountains with Mr.. An
derson in the earliest stages of the work.
| The careful and patient manner In which he
attacked the question was beyond all praise.
| / have endeavored for many years in teach
| ing classes in civil engineering to place them
as nearly as | could in Mr.. Anderson's posi-
ton, and to make them follew closely his
method OF studying an Important engineer
| ing question. There are many places on the
| road through the Crawford Notch where an
| error of dozen feet in the position OF the
| line would easily have quadrupled the cost.
| Now that the road Is done it seems inpossi-
| BILE that IL should have been placed any,
where else. The genius Of the engineer con-
| sists in seeing in his minds eye, the COM
| pleted work before the money is expended.
l well remember at a gathering Of engin-
GERS at the Crawford House, when the re-
mark was made that the location through
the Notch was stroke of genius, Mr.. An
| derson's reply, that there was no genius
whatever about it, but only careful atten-
| ton ito the details of the work; and he
added, that any engineer who had the work
| to do would have found the same location.
| No engineer would have done the work as
| Mr.. Anderson did it without Mr.. Anderson's
| patience and skill and admirable judgment.
| We have many roads in this country, the
| prosperity of which has been forever ruined
| by njudicious location and extravagant
| construction; roads where millions have
| been wasted from lack of the very quail
ties which shine so conspicuously in this
| last work of Mr.. Anderson. No man sur
| passed himlin what we may term the pre-emi-
| nently American engineering faculty OF
| making dollar go the greatest distance.
| Any engineer can make railroad over the
| Andes or over the Alps if he is allowed to
| spend an unlimited amount of money; but
| the man who stands deservedly in
| the front rank of the profession is
he who, overcoming the obstacles of
nature, never forgets that 1.-THE money
| of the stockholders is sacred trust.
and is to be invested and not squandered.
recoilect coming down through the Notch
with noted European engineer, who, after
| reaching Conway, said: well! l expected
| to see some great engineering works; but
| this engineer has made no monument to him.
| self at ALL" replied TO himtthat the very
lack of these things was Mr.. Anderson
| greatest monument.
| Mr.. Anderson was extremely conscientious
| in the discussion of difficult engineering
| problems. He had the faculty OF being able
to see both sides of question. He would
not give his judgment until all the evidence
was in: This caused him to appear to be
| slow; but he was sure, and when the de-
| cision came it was felt to be right.
| Always devoted to his profession, tireless
| in carrying out the details of his work, when
| the time came for rest he was the most genial
| of companions. Fond of a good story, and
| eminently able to tell one, he has been the
| life of many an engineering party around
| the camp fire and has beguiled many an hour
| on the stage-top with his unbounded cheer
| fulness. For myself, feel that have lost
one whose opinion upon professional matters
| has never failed me, and one of my best ard
Oldest friends. GEORGE L. VosE.